With determination, grit, and a need for speed, remember the name Luke Maeder, Adelaide’s newest racing talent with his sights set on going pro.
19-year-old Luke’s passion, since childhood, has been to race cars and be successful.
“The love for racing started when I was a little kid,” shared Luke.
“My love for cars started watching the Supercars and Lightning McQueen, but I didn’t get to start my racing journey until I was 13 or 14, which was with a racing simulator that I saved up and bought. From there the love for the sport, the sounds, the noise, the feelings I get when you’re in that kind of zone really just grew.
“I started go-karting when I was 15 turning 16, we saved up enough money and my grandparents helped me out to buy my first go-kart, and we started racing from there.”
Luke started in go-karts as most of the top race car drivers have done, but his thirst for more speed led him to transition to Formula Vee racing after his family purchased Luke’s first race car.

Formula Vee was the starting place for current Australian motorsport young guns, Cameron Waters, Jack LeBrocq, Caleb Rayner, and Sam Power, and racing greats like Cameron McConville, Larry Perkins, Jason Bargwanna, Colin Bond, John Blanchard and John Bowe also all began their careers in Formula Vee. On the international stage, Formula 1 champions Niki Lauda, Emerson Fittipaldi and Keke Rosberg all raced Formula Vees in Europe or America at the beginning of their careers.
In 2024, Luke’s first season in Vees, he was awarded Rookie of the Year, Best Presented Team and Car, the Ovenden Cup, and a podium finish for round 4 club and state trophy.
“This season (2025) we’re having another crack at the Formula Vee Championship, but this time we’re doing it not just at a state level, we’re doing it on a national level. We’re going to be taking on the big boys in terms of Formula Vee Australia. We’ll be going to WA, Queensland, Sydney, Melbourne, all sorts.
“The national series which is on Fox Sports is really a massive step up from the state series last year. This year’s going to be quite big for us!”

Luke is currently working two jobs to bring in the money to pay for the expense of racing. His main career is with CMI Toyota on West Terrace, where his car experience is at the forefront. He also bar tends at the Old Lion Hotel. Between gym training to be at peak fitness for racing, and working, there’s not a lot of time for a social life, but Luke sees his future behind the wheel of a race car and he strives to make that dream happen every day.
This season Luke shares that he would love to show his talent, skill, and consistency and really dominate the series, to ultimately win the championship.
Looking further forward Luke’s ultimate goals are to either be a factory driver in a GT series and endurance racing in Europe, Asia, or the US, or to be involved with Supercars.
If you’re keen to follow along with Luke’s journey, he encourages fans to follow his social media pages, get down to races, and donate.
Luke’s Instagram: @luke_maeder
Douglas Racing Team’s Instagram: @douglas_racing_team
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